Police Detective
William Chrystal was a policeman in Christchurch. Chrystal Street in Richmond was named in his honour.
William was born in 1846 in County Galway, Ireland to British parents. He was educated in Dublin at Trinity College. He farmed in Ireland before he came to New Zealand in the early 1880s.
Life in New Zealand
On arrival in New Zealand he set out to farm here too, but changed his mind and decided to join the New Zealand Police force as a detective. He rose to the rank of Chief Detective.
He involved himself in community affairs and was a Freemason.
Death
His wife Katie Agnes, died in 1913, followed by William in 1923. His funeral procession made quite a spectacle as it made its way by horse drawn hearse down Stanmore Road, flanked by his sons. Both he and his wife are buried in the Avonside Anglican Church Cemetery.
